David Lagrou

David is a geologist (PhD, 2001) with a broad interest in research and education. He has worked on many different geological topics in his 30-year career at VITO, KU Leuven and GSB, o.a. geological mapping, raw materials, geothermal energy and his passion karst & cave sciences. He has explored and studied caves in many countries all over the world (a.o. Vietnam, Spain, Austria, USA, Belgium, Brasil and Lebanon).

LinkedIn

 

Function

Since Feb. 2025, David has been associated with the Geological Survey of Belgium (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences) where he is working (halftime) on a BELSPO-project about Karst Geoparks in Belgium (Famenne-Ardenne) and Vietnam (Dong Van Karst Plateau). He is currently also working at KU Leuven (halftime) on the project ‘Einstein Telescope’, where he uses his expertise in karst related features.

Research theme: Geosciences for a sustainable society
Research team: Geological Survey of Belgium

 

Current Project(s)

The Geo2KA-project (2024-2027) intends to contribute to a better handling of geohazards and geoheritage protection in karst areas. To investigate the karstic specificities and responses affecting risk mitigation actions, 2 karst areas are studied, 1 in Belgium, located in the Famenne-Ardenne UNESCO Global Geopark, with typical meander cut-offs systems, and 1 in Vietnam, the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark (mountainous karst with typical sinkhole-resurgence systems).
GEO2KA

 

Area of Expertise

Karst and cave sciences, Geohazards and Geoparks, Geotourism, Geological fieldwork

 

External activities

Active exploration speleologist, for the moment active North Vientam (Dong Van Karst Plateau, Cao Bang and Lang Son Geoparks), NW-Spain (Picos de Europa)
Secretary of BVLG, the Alumni organization of the geologists graduated at KU Leuven. We organize geological field excursions, visits to companies with connections to geology. Networking between geologists is also an important goal of our organization.

BVLG

 

Dissemination activities

Laureate Science communication – Royal Academies for Science and Arts of Belgium 2017. Promotion of Deep Geothermal Energy.

 

Professional Experience

At VITO (1999-2022) David was involved in geological mapping, research of raw materials and deep geothermal energy. In addition, he conducted stratigraphic research on the Paleozoic. In his secondary occupation (GSL) he is focused on karst and cave research (exploration, adventurous guided tours in caves), rock research (determination and damage diagnosis). As passionate geologist, he organizes geological field excursions, tours ‘stone in the city'. Since 2025 David works at GSB on the GEO2KA-project and at KU Leuven on Einstein Telescope project, where he focuses on karst phenomena in the project area.

 

Publication highlights

VAN DER VOET, E., LAENEN, B., MUCHEZ, P., LAGROU, D. CLAES, H., VERBIEST, M. & SWENNEN, R. 2022. Controls of dolomitization and bed thickness on fracture networks in Lower Carboniferous carbonates in southern Belgium. Journal of Structural Geology, v.164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2022.104729

BROOTHAERS, M., LAGROU, D., LAENEN, B., HARCOUËT-MENOU, V. & VOS D., 2021. Deep geothermal energy in the lower carboniferous carbonates of the Campine basin, Northern Belgium: an overview from the 1950’s to 2020. Z. Dt. Ges. Geowiss. (J. Appl. Reg. Geol.), 172 (3), p. 211–225.

LAGROU, D. & COEN-AUBERT, M., 2017. Update of the Devonian lithostratigraphic subdivision in the subsurface of the Campine Basin (northern Belgium). Geologica Belgica. 20/1-2: 1-13.

DUSAR, M. & LAGROU, D., 2007. Cretaceous flooding of the Brabant Massif and the lithostratigraphic characteristics of its chalk cover in northern Belgium. Geologica Belgica. 10/1-2: 27-38.

LAGROU, D., DREESEN, R. & BROOTHAERS, L. 2004. Comparative quantitative petrographical analysis of Cenozoic aquifer sands in Flanders (N Belgium): overall trends and quality assessment. Materials Characterization, 53, 317-326.